Broncos receiver Eddie Royal, who has played the entire camp with the first-string offense, missed his first practice Thursday.

Royal seemed fine as he walked from the weight-conditioning center to the locker room so his absence could be nothing more than soreness or fatigue. Jabar Gaffney, the other starting receiver who missed his first practice Wednesday afternoon, was back at practice Thursday.

Receivers generally run more than any position during practice so coach Josh McDaniels might have wanted to freshen up the legs of Gaffney and Royal for the preseason game Sunday in Cincinnati.